Queen to miss Commonwealth summit in SL

7 May 2013 06:36 am - 101 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Queen is set to miss the Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka, for the first time in 40 years. It is not yet known why the monarch will not attend the meeting, but it is believed Prince Charles may go in her place, British media reported.

The news comes amid controversy over the summit, with concerns having been raised by member governments over human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. But the decision by the Queen not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) is not thought to be related, according to Sky News.

It is not known whether the Queen, who is head of the Commonwealth, has decided to miss the meeting on health grounds, after she was admitted to hospital earlier this year suffering from gastroenteritis, or if her decision is part of a move to transfer more responsibilities to Prince Charles.

Every two years leaders of the 54 Commonwealth nations meet to discuss global issues, and the Queen attended the last meeting in Perth, Australia, in 2011.

The location of the meeting in Sri Lanka has divided leaders of the Commonwealth countries, concerned about the country's human rights record and the ruling of its president, Mahinda Rajapaksa.

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Comments - 101

Tony Fernandez Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:56 AM

I sincerely hope it is due to health reasons and not any other

ANTON Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:58 AM

ADVENTURES OF TAMILNADU ROLY-POLY WOMAN

Dhanushka Attygale Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:59 AM

Thank god for that or our royal family will be jumping for joy

kondebendapucheena Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:10 AM

Diaspora still you are not happy is'n it Prince Charles is coming

firefox Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:15 AM

Queen of England will not visit the King of Sri Lanka then?

Iraj Jayarathne Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:20 AM

Our king is mad to hold this useless summit, what a waste of public money.

kaputakukula Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:21 AM

HURAY!!! SRI LANKA SCORES ANOTHER "FIRST" IN RECORD??

kaputakukula Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:23 AM

No Tony. It is the 'prick' of conscience.

nalaka Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:30 AM

As if we Sri Lankas are sad about a big loss

Sonali De Silva Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:32 AM

We threw them out and got our independence. They raped our country. Why are we so worried if she does not attend. What have they done for us anyway. They are still 21st century imperialists. Ignore her and get on with the summit.

Ravin Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:36 AM

Queen has stolen everything she needs from here long ago so she doesn't have any interests towards Sri Lanka now.

Nimal Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:40 AM

Canadian PM also will not visit

nalaka Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:44 AM

so who cares

Ram Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:59 AM

Thanks Madam.

We appreciate what you do

Jan Chandra Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:01 AM

Location of CHOGM has not divided the leaders as said in your article. Only Canada raised issues. It is high time the Queen abdicates in favour of Charles.

Samiar Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:05 AM

Well said! Three hearty cheers! Only diaspora are excited about these insignificant developments.

Mihira Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:07 AM

By holding the CHOGM in SL in Nov we have dealt a massive blow to our enemies.

Srimathi Basnayake Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:08 AM

we don't want chogm in sri lanka - a colonial monument

Kalum Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:09 AM

It's a better development for SL as Prince Charles will ascend the throne soon. Like queen Beatrix she is promoting her son.

DCOL Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:10 AM

In Netherlands, Queen handover the power to her son...

in UK also this could be a transit or practice for Price of Wales to become next King..

In that way, this is an honour to SL. Think Positive boys and girls!

Whatever the stupid politicians do, This is our country

Truth Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:13 AM

Sour grapes!!!

raviraj Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:21 AM

then why have the summit in th e first place.
If not for the Brits Sl woud'nt have tea and Sonali would'nt be writing in English

raviraj Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:23 AM

what was there to steal from SL?

Lion Man Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:26 AM

Canadian PM will hand over his chair to the leader of opposition soon

kaputakukula Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:44 AM

nalaka, yuo remind me, "The fox and the sour grapes!"

Achcharu Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:44 AM

'Prick' about how the empire ruled and sucked us of the goodness and culture? I hope she puts the 'prick' in the right place.

Jagath Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:46 AM

expect delays and road closures during the summit.

sundram Tuesday, 07 May 2013 08:53 AM

like your king

galapitamada Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:27 AM

Victory For the Minorities MR & RW what happened why should u have COHGM

galapitamada Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:29 AM

Its not due to any other reason than HR Abuses in sri lanka

rajo Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:34 AM

if not for the Brits you will be still traveling in the Bucki Karathe in gravel road from Matara, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya etc., with no electricity using the coconut shell pandama.

Suq Madique Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:36 AM

raviraja....and the tamils wouldn't have a place to claim refugee status?

Buffaloa Citizen Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:37 AM

Your one part is from India, the other from Portugal or Spain and your write in English probably wearing western clothes too. Typical native ignorance found in abundance locally.

Suq Madique Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:36 AM

Funny her conscience didn't prick her when Blair invaded Iraq under false pretenses, and when the US drones bombs killed women and children. Must be a very selective prick don't you think.

sach Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:47 AM

what do u think they did for more than a century?

Judy G Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:52 AM

Hey guys give the lady a break shes 87 years old. She loves the Commonwealth people very much, she is not a political figure.

Bimali Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:53 AM

Looks like you are so naive. They stole our wealth, gemstones in a big way, Brits were invading countries to steal all the goodness andnow want to have a control. We should not give in at all.

sobers Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:53 AM

Who ever comes or Not, Electricity Bill become more expensive after the Thamasha along with high rise in cost of living. We will be clean suit Empty pocket Suddha ( white man)!

Faizal Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:55 AM

We dont want Canadian PM to visit anyway. His country was great at laundering money and helping the LTTE.

truth Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:57 AM

are you seriously retarted?

AKRAM Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:05 AM

forget about who visits or not,our country is free from terrorism now,lets be united regardless politics,cast and religion,lets be only srilankans.

desilva Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:08 AM

What a shame. We lost 'ROYAL VEHICLE'

crow Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:08 AM

NOT !!!!!. EXPECTED

Gemunu Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:24 AM

If it wasnt for the Brits, we wouldn't have the ethnic problem too

Bastian Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:32 AM

Don't get excited man. We Lankans will have the last laugh!

ANTON Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:32 AM

WHY YOU HAVE NOTHING TO COMMENT ?

Bastian Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:37 AM

Sri Lanka will be the chairman for 56 countries for two years. Isn't that a huge victory especially at a critical juncture like this?

Calistus Jayatilleke Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:36 AM

Most probably, the Queen is afraid of our politicos who murder her day in and day out when they speak in English. Anyway, our King will get his Queen to declare open the summit.

k.kings Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:39 AM

insult

CHOGM Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:05 AM

Sad news but the show has to go on if the queen is there or not.I hope she will review her decision to go if she is in good health.

Rohan Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:26 AM

Have a look at the previous comment Raviraj. When i saw your comment reminds me of the people like those who betrayed the Kandyan kingdom to British in the history.

Mathu Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:27 AM

Hi Hays. Queen doesn’t want to give the throne to Prince Charles. She waits until Prince William to acquire more knowledge and talents to grown him.

Rubert Vanderkoon Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:29 AM

It was always the only possibility. She didn't attend for the first time the openning ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in India in 2010. But Charlie or somebody else will represent her!

HRfan Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:37 AM

Her Majesty, we always love You and wait for You, for us, You are a symbol of peace and hope. May God give You health and strength to bless us!

Judy G Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:44 AM

Not her decision - uk rubbish government decision

Trevor Jayetileke Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:44 AM

I am lost for words.

All I could say is may the Lord Bless our gracious Queen and Prince Phillip who has served the British Navy in Sri Lanka.
The Canadian PM can now stop harping over Human Rights.
There are only three worthy leaders left in this World today., and they are the Queen, President Putin and President Rajapakse.

Fayad Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:43 AM

May be all flights are fully booked
Because Commonwealth summit held in wonderland

MayIwin Silva Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:53 AM

Awath ekai nawath ekai. Kawuru awath apitai hene!

senaka Tuesday, 07 May 2013 11:57 AM

Of course we write and read the Queen's English and follow the Justice system. At least few words of English in computer is more American.

sahdi Tuesday, 07 May 2013 12:13 PM

After COMMONWEALTH summit we can get price hike....as a result....

Sri Lankan Tuesday, 07 May 2013 12:17 PM

Earlier we spent Billions of Rupees, to get C'wealth Games and now we are trying to do similar expense for nothing which is going to benefit us.
One of the main proposal of SLFP inaugural meetings in 1951 is to be a independent Nation out of this C'wealth.
(re. TB Illangaratne's Ugayaka Gamana P.89) and with 1972 constitution we started going towards that by having 1976 NA summit Conference too.
Now we back to original state and proud to be a Sudda's
coll any! But treatment from them is the same yesterday & today & future too.

Nodrog Tuesday, 07 May 2013 12:57 PM

And you would have still been stuck up in your palmyrah tree looking for grass.

Amila. G Tuesday, 07 May 2013 03:11 PM

Boru weda. Minisar badaginne Saha karuwalay.

Amila. G Tuesday, 07 May 2013 03:16 PM

British queen has inherited wealth and and and and.

Nadi Karunaratne Tuesday, 07 May 2013 04:03 PM

Good call - doesn't fancy the food nor the company of the hosts.

Ravin Tuesday, 07 May 2013 04:19 PM

No body talked about the king. Everybody knows his sins. Why do you favor the queen so much?

Pro Tuesday, 07 May 2013 04:51 PM

there is no concrete reason given, I assumes this is politically motivated decision because of HR record

RamUk Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:06 PM

Well said . I did predict this before

Saskia Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:28 PM

Yes, we are very very happy by this announcement. Charles is nothing compared to Queen.

JUCKRAM Tuesday, 07 May 2013 06:30 PM

SURPRISING , AKAM TELLING TO FORGET ABOUT RELIGION.!!!

dass Tuesday, 07 May 2013 07:43 PM

another wedding without the bride.

Trehan Munasinghe Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:14 PM

Like back then SL Govt hosted the NAM summit, the Govt failed to win the election in 1977 as people were fed up... will History repeat itself ??? in 2016

Jagath Leanage Tuesday, 07 May 2013 09:51 PM

Boycott or miss, what will be the correct word?

Nims Wednesday, 08 May 2013 12:27 AM

Brits gave us more s**** than Tea and English

manpei Wednesday, 08 May 2013 01:29 AM

It's funny to read all these comments India, UK, the queen, the Diaspora are all apparantly responsible for all the crime curruption and economic problems faced by Srilanka today.

Lankashantha Wednesday, 08 May 2013 01:34 AM

May be she remembered the last photoshop work?

Saman Wednesday, 08 May 2013 01:42 AM

She is 80 years old for goodness sake! She simply doesn't want to travel. Last time when she visited Australia, she said, it would be her last!

Be fair...... Wednesday, 08 May 2013 02:52 AM

When can we be SRI LANKANS, be proud of our Country? We just want to hammer ourselves whilst the diaspora and other vested parties laugh at us.

Rohan Wednesday, 08 May 2013 02:54 AM

Ram you lost the UK piece again? Which nationality are you now?

citizen Wednesday, 08 May 2013 02:56 AM

I wish British still ruled Sri Lanka. Sri lanka would have been like Hongkong.

im Wednesday, 08 May 2013 04:06 AM

Queen not like our King Dutugamuni

sanju Wednesday, 08 May 2013 06:54 AM

in vain
if the husband came we could have had some amusement with his uncontrollable rude ramblings on the natives and stuff

sen Wednesday, 08 May 2013 07:03 AM

Tony a writer on behalf of the Govern or what?

Be fair...... Wednesday, 08 May 2013 07:12 AM

Citizen......... You are very right on your comment, but now its rather late for us isnt it? we have missed the bus on that. We would have been better off under the British

JAN K- UK Wednesday, 08 May 2013 07:16 AM

If not for British, Interet would have been use for Sri Lankans.

bimba Wednesday, 08 May 2013 07:32 AM

I feel sorry about you.

Hong Kong John Wednesday, 08 May 2013 07:53 AM

Kalum, The day Charles sits on the throne will be a very sad day for England.

Nodrog Wednesday, 08 May 2013 08:03 AM

Why..are you happy that she's too old to travel??

ashok Wednesday, 08 May 2013 08:33 AM

If the Queen do not come the King will come

Saskia Wednesday, 08 May 2013 08:38 AM

It is better than stealing others land. This is what is happening in North and East.

Gemunu Wednesday, 08 May 2013 10:16 AM

What an insult. Sri Lanka should be an independant Sri Lanka. Not a country to be under an invader and ruling us.

A brit Wednesday, 08 May 2013 11:29 AM

For god's sake she is 87 years old lady. What's the big fuss. Future king is coming any way..

Upali Mapatuna Wednesday, 08 May 2013 12:08 PM

She is not visiting Srilanka purely for health reasons,nothing else. Prince Charles is good as Queen to me. Long live Cameron too been straight forward on this matter.
Good Luck to the Present Govt too ,trying to make "Sri lanka Better Place to Live.'
You cant win them all.

rajrajraj Wednesday, 08 May 2013 12:29 PM

we all know, the respect Queen gives to her son, she send him to Srilanka instead of her, really it is insult to our country.

Nodrog Wednesday, 08 May 2013 12:38 PM

sen writing on behalf of the Brits or what eh?

UKpeter Thursday, 09 May 2013 12:00 AM

The reason for the Queen not visiting Sri Lanka is more to do with her age (mid 80's) rather than anything else via DM Android App

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Queen to miss Commonwealth summit in SL

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